LOCKABLE KEYBOARD FOR A WIRELESS HANDHELD COMMUNICATION DEVICE

• US 20070188466A1
• Filed: 06/13/2006
• Published: 08/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: FYKE, Steven, GRIFFIN, Jason T., LEE, Matthew, BOCKING, Andrew
• Application Number:
  US11/423,771
• Publication Number:
  US 20070188466A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/167
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3215 Monitoring of peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3271 Power saving in keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0213 Arrangements providing an integrated pointing device in a keyboard, e.g. trackball, mini-joystick for pointing devices integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/169; joysticks G05G9/047; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/023 Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03549 Trackballs G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/67 by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A handheld electronic device useful for wireless communication has a keyboard including a plurality of externally accessible keys. The keys can be disabled (i.e. the keyboard can be locked) to prevent accidental actuation thereof by using the navigation tool which has a depressible rolling member. Thus, for example, depression of the rolling member twice in succession or pressing and holding the rolling member down temporarily enables the keyboard lock. The lock can be disabled simply by depressing the rolling member and at least one other key.

Claims

1. A wireless handheld communication device, comprising:

a keyboard having a plurality of buttons for inputting information into the device;

a graphical display;

a navigation tool by means of which a user interacts with the device, said navigation tool including a rolling element; and

a processor which controls operation of the device, said processor running a program which suspends operability of a subset of said buttons and which suspends operability of said navigation tool when a pre-selected action is taken by the user, said wireless handheld electronic device transmits data to, and receives data from a communication network utilizing radio frequency signals and wherein the data transmitted between said wireless handheld electronic device and the communication network supports voice and textual messaging.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said navigation tool is a press-click trackball device and wherein said pre-selected action comprises press-clicking and holding said trackball device for a pre-determined period of time.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said pre-selected action is user-defineable.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said pre-selected action is pre-programmed.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said keyboard has buttons corresponding to the letters A-Z of the English alphabet.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein said letters of the English alphabet correspond to buttons on said keyboard on a one-letter-per-button basis.

7. The device of claim 5, wherein said letters of the English alphabet correspond to buttons on said keyboard on a multiple-letter-per-button basis.

8. The device of claim 5, wherein said letters of the English alphabet are arranged in one of a QWERTY, QWERTZ, AZERTY, and Dvorak arrangement.

9. A method for protecting a wireless handheld electronic device provided with a keyboard having a multiplicity of depressible keys from inadvertent depressions of said keys, wherein the device is useful for wireless communication, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a navigation tool having a rolling member that rolls about at least one axis, wherein the navigation tool is actuable by rolling and by depressing the rolling member;

setting the wireless handheld electronic device in a mode where the functioning of the keys in at least part of the keyboard is prevented so that a keyboard lock mode is established; and

activating the setting of the keyboard lock mode as a response to a given first keyboard command issued by said navigation tool, said wireless handheld electronic device transmits data to, and receives data from a communication network utilizing radio frequency signals and wherein the data transmitted between said wireless handheld electronic device and the communication network supports voice and textual messaging.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the keyboard lock mode is activated as a response to depressing and holding the rolling member down for a predetermined time, so that the depressing and holding constitutes said given first keyboard command.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein said keyboard lock mode is removed as a response to a second given keyboard command, which is different from said given first keyboard command.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the keyboard lock mode, the functions caused by all other keys are prevented, except for those keys that are needed for giving said second given keyboard command.

13. The method according to claim 9, wherein said wireless handheld electronic device comprises a lighted display located above the keyboard suitable for accommodating textual input to the wireless handheld electronic device when said wireless handheld electronic device is in an operable configuration, said navigation tool being located essentially between the display and keyboard in the operable configuration.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein said keyboard comprises a plurality of keys with which alphabetic letters are associated, one letter per key.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein said alphabetic letters are configured in one of a QWERTY, QWERTZ, and AZERTY layout.

16. The method according to claim 13, wherein said keyboard comprises a plurality of keys with which alphabetic letters are associated and wherein at least a portion of the individual keys have multiple letters associated therewith.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein said alphabetic letters are configured in one of a QWERTY, QWERTZ, and AZERTY layout.

18. The method according to claim 13, wherein said navigational tool is a trackball.

19. A wireless handheld electronic device useful for wireless communication, comprising:

a display;

a keyboard for producing keyboard commands indicative of functions to be performed;

a navigation tool for producing navigation tool commands indicative of functions to be performed, said navigation tool having a rolling member that rolls about at least one axis, wherein the navigation tool is actuable by rolling and by depressing the rolling member and wherein the navigation tool is located below the display and above the keyboard;

means for interpreting the navigation tool and keyboard commands given by the navigation tool and keyboard and producing functions indicated thereby;

control means for producing a temporary prevention of the producing of the functions caused by at least part of the keys in the keyboard, so that there is formed a keyboard lock mode;

means for detecting when said navigation tool gives a keyboard lock command; and

means for transmitting the indicative signal as to the navigation tool giving said keyboard lock command to the control means in order to form a keyboard lock mode when so indicated, said wireless handheld electronic device transmits data to, and receives data from a communication network utilizing radio frequency signals and wherein the data transmitted between said wireless handheld electronic device and the communication network supports voice and textual messaging.

20. The device according to claim 19, wherein said detecting means comprises means, responsive to the depressing and holding of the rolling member down for a predetermined time, for producing said indicative signal activating the keyboard lock mode.

21. The device according to claim 19, further comprising means, responsive to a keyboard unlock keyboard command, which is different from said keyboard lock command of said rolling member, for removing said keyboard lock mode.

22. The device according to claim 21, wherein said control means comprises means, responsive to said indicative signal, for forming said keyboard lock mode, such that the functions caused by all of the keys in the keyboard are prevented, except for those keys that are needed for giving said keyboard unlock command.

23. The device according to claim 19, wherein said wireless handheld electronic device comprises a lighted display located above the keyboard suitable for accommodating textual input to the wireless handheld electronic device when said wireless handheld electronic device is in an operable configuration, said navigation tool being located essentially between the display and keyboard in the operable configuration.

24. The device according to claim 23, wherein said keyboard comprises a plurality of keys with which alphabetic letters are associated, one letter per key.

25. The device according to claim 24, wherein said alphabetic letters are configured in one of a QWERTY, QWERTZ, and AZERTY layout.

26. The device according to claim 23, wherein said keyboard comprises a plurality of keys with which alphabetic letters are associated and wherein at least a portion of the individual keys have multiple letters associated therewith.

27. The device according to claim 26, wherein said alphabetic letters are configured in one of a QWERTY, QWERTZ, and AZERTY layout.

28. The device according to claim 19, wherein said navigational tool is a trackball.

29. A wireless handheld electronic device useful for wireless communication, comprising:

a navigation tool for producing navigation tool commands indicative of functions to be performed, said navigation tool having a rolling member that rolls about at least one axis, wherein the navigation tool is actuable by rolling and by depressing the rolling member;

a keyboard having a multiplicity of depressable keys for producing keyboard commands indicative of functions to be performed;

means for interpreting the navigation tool and keyboard commands given by said depressable keys of the keyboard and producing functions indicated thereby;

control means for producing a temporary prevention of the producing of the functions caused by at least part of the keys of the keyboard, so that there is formed a keyboard lock mode,

means for detecting the manner in which the rolling member is depressed and producing a signal indicative the keyboard lock mode, and

means for transmitting said indicative signal to the control means in order to form the keyboard lock mode, said wireless handheld electronic device transmits data to, and receives data from a communication network utilizing radio frequency signals and wherein the data transmitted between said wireless handheld electronic device and the communication network supports voice and textual messaging.

30. The device according to claim 29, wherein said detecting means comprises means, responsive to the depressing and holding of the rolling member down for a predetermined time, for producing said indicative signal activating the keyboard lock mode.

31. The device according to claim 29, further comprising means, responsive to a keyboard unlock command, which is different from said keyboard lock command of said rolling member, for removing said keyboard lock mode.

32. The device according to claim 31, wherein said control means comprises means, responsive to said indicative signal, for forming said keyboard lock mode, such that the functions caused by all of the keys in the keyboard are prevented, except for those keys that are needed for giving said second keyboard command.

33. The device according to claim 29, wherein said wireless handheld electronic device comprises a lighted display located above the keyboard suitable for accommodating textual input to the wireless handheld electronic device when said wireless handheld electronic device is in an operable configuration, said navigation tool being located essentially between the display and keyboard in the operable configuration.

34. The device according to claim 33, wherein said keyboard comprises a plurality of keys with which alphabetic letters are associated, one letter per key.

35. The device according to claim 34, wherein said alphabetic letters are configured in one of a QWERTY, QWERTZ, and AZERTY layout.

36. The device according to claim 33, wherein said keyboard comprises a plurality of keys with which alphabetic letters are associated and wherein at least a portion of the individual keys have multiple letters associated therewith.

37. The device according to claim 36, wherein said alphabetic letters are configured in one of a QWERTY, QWERTZ, and AZERTY layout.

38. The device according to claim 29, wherein said navigational tool is a trackball.

39. A wireless handheld communication device useful for wireless communication, comprising:

a navigation tool having a rolling member that rolls about at least one axis, wherein the navigation tool is actuable by rolling and by depressing the rolling member;

a keyboard having a plurality of externally accessible and individually actuable keys;

means for sensing the actuation of the navigation tool when depressed in a unique predetermined number of times; and

means responsive to said sensing means for disabling at least some of the keys of said keyboard, said wireless handheld electronic device transmits data to, and receives data from a communication network utilizing radio frequency signals and wherein the data transmitted between said wireless handheld electronic device and the communication network supports voice and textual messaging.

40. The device as claimed in claim 39, wherein the navigation tool is selected from the group consisting of a trackball, a wheel, and a roller barrel.

41. The device as claimed in claim 39, wherein the navigation tool is a trackball, wherein the trackball has a ball in a housing and is capable of rolling about a plurality of axes, wherein the trackball is actuable by rolling and by depressing the ball.

42. The device as claimed in claim 39, wherein the sensing means disables a portion of said plurality of keys.

43. The device as claimed in claim 39, wherein said portion is all the keys other than a first key, which is one of said plurality of keys.

44. The device as claimed in claim 39, wherein the responsive means re-enables said other keys in response to subsequent actuations of said navigation tool and at least one of said plurality of keys in the predetermined order.

45. The device as claimed in claim 39, wherein said at least one of said plurality of keys is a first key.

46. The device as claimed in claim 39, wherein said first key is associated with at least one alternative function.

47. The device as claimed in claim 39, wherein the sensing means disables said first key in relation to said alternative function.

48. The device as claimed in claim 45, wherein said predetermined order of navigation tool and key actuation involves depressing said navigation tool and said first key simultaneously.

49. The device as claimed in claim 45, wherein said predetermined order of key actuation involves depressing said navigation tool and said first key successively.

50. The device as claimed in claim 39, further comprising:

means for automatically interrupting key disablement responsive to sensing an incoming call.

51. The device as claimed in claim 39, further comprising:

means for automatically terminating key disablement when circuitry in the apparatus senses an incoming call.

52. The device as claimed in claim 39, wherein said wireless handheld electronic device comprises a lighted display located above the keyboard suitable for accommodating textual input to the wireless handheld electronic device when said wireless handheld electronic device is in an operable configuration, said navigation tool being located essentially between the display and keyboard in the operable configuration.

53. The device as claimed in claim 52, wherein said keyboard comprises a plurality of keys with which alphabetic letters are associated, one letter per key.

54. The device as claimed in claim 53, wherein said alphabetic letters are configured in one of a QWERTY, QWERTZ, and AZERTY layout.

55. The device as claimed in claim 52, wherein said keyboard comprises a plurality of keys with which alphabetic letters are associated and wherein at least a portion of the individual keys have multiple letters associated therewith.

56. The device as claimed in claim 55, wherein said alphabetic letters are configured in one of a QWERTY, QWERTZ, and AZERTY layout.

57. The device as claimed in claim 39, wherein said navigational tool is a trackball.